The purpose of this study was to research on group art therapy for improvement of
interpersonal relations of Juveniles with mental retardation. The five(5) students with mental
retardation who are attending academic high school, were given a group art therapy
program once a week, fifteen(15) times in total and 70 minutes at a time. The effects of
group art therapy were measured by the degree of interpersonal relationship change of
juveniles with mental retardation by relationship change scale test and Draw-A-Person
diagnosis test. The change degree before and after testing was analyzed by those tests.
Also, the process of interpersonal relationship change of juveniles with mental retardation
was analyzed through the analysis of group art therapy process.
The study came to conclusion as follows : Firstly, there was a undesirable interpersonal
relationship which is one of the main characteristics of juveniles with metal retardation.
Secondly, juveniles with mental retardation had same physical, societal, and emotional
desires that the normal juveniles had. The undesirable and insufficient interpersonal
relationship was improved through the change of psychological, societal and emotional
change in processing of group art therapy. This change was seen through Draw-A-Person
diagnosis test and scores of interpersonal relationship change scale test which has
subordinate ranges such as satisfaction, communication, confidence, affection, sensitiveness,
openness, and understanding. The result shows that group art therapy gives a positive
effects to the interpersonal relationship improvement of juveniles with mental retardation.
Key Words : Group Art Therapy, Mental Retardation, Interpersonal Relationship